When predatory men (slash vampires) are disguised as love interests in 'The Coven'
buckle up, baby, I have *feelings*
In the latest episode of The Dark Academicals, we unpacked ‘The Coven’ by Harper L. Woods, a book steeped in dark magic, ancient bloodlines, and dangerous romance.
At its centre is a familiar figure: the powerful, brooding male lead whose threatening nature is framed as part of his allure. But the narrative quickly veers into troubling territory, blurring the line between passion and coercion. Emotional manipulation, boundary-crossing, and a lack of meaningful consent are repeatedly presented as intensity or inevitability, rather than red flags.
The heroine’s resistance is often brushed aside or reinterpreted as desire, her autonomy eroded under the guise of magical bonds or male protection. The story asks readers to root for a relationship built on control, and rarely pauses to interrogate that dynamic.
This isn’t unique to ‘The Coven’. It reflects a broader trend in fantasy romance where dominance is glamorised without critique. Dark romance can. and should, wrestle with power, danger, and morally grey characters. But when those elements go unexamined, they risk reinforcing harmful tropes under the veil of fantasy.
As readers and listeners, we’re allowed to enjoy the dark and the dramatic, but we should also be willing to ask: what kind of love stories are we being sold, and at what cost?